Adjustable sofa-bed provided with frame locking means



N 1955 J. M. POKORNY ET AL 2,722,016

ADJUSTABLE SOFA-BED PROVIDED WITH FRAME LOCKING MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 195s 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTORS John Pokorny ATTORN j Nov. 1, 1955 J. M. POKORNY ET AL 2,722,016

ADJUSTABLE SOFA-BED PROVIDED WITH FRAME LOCKING MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ADJUSTABLE SOFA-BED PROVIDED WITH FRAME LOCKING MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1955 Nov. 1, 1955 J. M. POKORNY ET AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mw R mo bx mi John 25in y us 201cm ATTORN Q Nov- 1, 1 5 J. M. POKORNY ET AL 2,722,016

ADJUSTABLE SOFA-BED PROVIDED WITH FRAME LOCKING MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I /92 30\ 1-r @Q /95 M4 1 l /40 /03 n-5mm! I lNV NTORS John M. okorny 139142116 Pa/corny Jr.

ATTORNQ Nov. 1, 1955 J. M. POKORNY ET AL 2,722,016

ADJUSTABLE SOFA-BED PROVIDED WITH FRAME LOCKING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 25, 1955 VfiNgORS 0 ornz L ws Pdlcarny, Jr.

M n m J ATTORNEY United States Patent ADJUSTABLE SQFA-BED PROVIDED WITH FRAME LQCKLJG MEANS John M. Pokorny and Louis Polrorny, In, Ronkonkoma, N. Y.

Application September 25, 1953, Serial No. 382,238

11 Claims. (Cl. -13) Our present invention relates generally to articles of furniture, and has particular reference to an adjustable structure commonly known as a sofa-bed, which in its closed position forms a sofa and may be adjusted into an open position to define a bed.

The invention is specifically concerned with improvements in foldable sofa-bed frames of the type described in Patents Nos. 2,445,241; 2,505,989; and 2,626,406. The constructions therein disclosed include a frame foldable into and out of a sofa body to define, respectively, a sofa and a bed, the frame comprising a plurality of articulated sections, at least two of which must be held in a particular relative disposition, preferably in parallelism, in order that the frame may be properly folded into and out of the sofa body. When the frame is completely unfolded, in its bed defining position, the articulated sections are in substantially horizontal alignment with one another. A mattress is associated with the frame in such a way that it lies flat on the extended frame when the structure is opened to define a bed, and doubles upon itself when the frame is folded to define a sofa.

In folding the parts into sofa-defining relationship, a problem is sometimes encountered during the final stage of adjustment, because any tendency of the lower and upper horizontal sections to separate from each other makes it difficult to maneuver the folded-up frame into the final lowered position. In that position the rear part lies beneath the upholstered back of the sofa, and if the frame elements are not properly compacted the upholstery may be damaged. The difliculty is aggravated by the concurrent desirable objective to use a relatively thick mattress and to keep the sofa seat relatively low. The mattress tends to spread the upper and lower frame sections and the bulge not only makes it more difficult to manipulate the frame properly but makes the sofa seat uncomfortable. Cumbersome strapping operations, to hold the frame sections in proper compacted relation, are not desirable.

it is a principal object of the present invention to obvia.e this diificulty by providing a sofa-bed of the type described in which at least a pair of the articulated frame sections are automatically interengaged and held in a particular relative disposition when the frame is moved between its folded position in the sofa body and a forwardly raised intermediate position out of the sofa body. The automatic mechanism is so designed that the frame sections are freely movable with respect to each other when the frame is moved between the intermediate position and its fully unfolded position. That is, the pair of frame sections are automatically locked in the required relative disposition only during the phase of frame movement adjacent to the folded position, and are automatically unlocked during the phase of frame movement adjacent to the fully unfolded position. In this way an operator is enabled to effect folding and unfolding of the frame with much greater ease and assurance, and without danger of mishap.

The frame sections include a pairofupper and lower horizontal sections that lie in superposed proximity, with the doubled-over mattress between them, when the frame is folded. It is the automatic locking of these two sections in their superposed, preferably substantially parallel, disposition that is accomplished by the special mechanisms provided by this invention. The result is preferably achieved by action upon one of a pair of toggle links that extend between the upper and lower horizontal sections. More particularly, a pair of special locking links are interposed between the lower horizontal section and the toggle link connected to it, and the locking links are of such lengths and are so arranged that the engaged toggle link is locked against movement relative to the lower horizontal section whenever the frame is moved between its fully folded and intermediate positions. This efiectively locks the toggle links against toggle opening movement, and thus locks the upper and lower horizontal sections inthe desired superposed relation. The interaction of the parts is such, however, that the locking links automatically function to release the engaged toggle link and permit the frame sections to be freely adjusted relative to one another during all movements of the frame between the intermediate position referred to and the fully opened bed-defining position.

Several ways of achieving these general objectives, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an end View of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sofa-bed body being shown in dot-and-dash lines, the frame being in its fully folded position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of part of the frame in folded condition;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the frame in an initial stage of its unfolding movement;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view, on the enlarged scale of Figure 2, showing the frame in its forward raised intermediate position of its unfolding movement;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially in the direction indicated by the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 5, showing the frame entering the final phase of its unfolding movement;

Figure 8 is an end view similar to Figure 1, showing the frame in its fully unfolded position;

Figure 9 is a partial top plan view of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an end view similar to Figure l of a modified form of the device;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary View of part of the frame in its folded position;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 1212 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 10, showing the frame in an initial stage of its unfolding movement;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the frame in its forward raised intermediate position of its unfolding movement;

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 15-15 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 14, showing the frame entering a further stage of unfolding movement;

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 10, showing the frame in its fully unfolded position; and

Figure 18 is a fragmentary top view of Figure 17.

Before entering upon a detailed description of the present invention, the device as a whole will be briefly described. The device is shown in Figure 1 in its closed or folded position to define a sofa, the sofa body 2 0- 3 being represented in dot-and-dash lines. When fully opened (Figures 8' and 9) the device defines a bed, the frame of which is made up of four substantially horizontal aligned sections.

In closed or' folded position these four" sections assome a compacted relationship; and for facility in terminology, the sections will be given descriptive appellations based upon their respective dispositions in the closed position. Thus, section 30, which is nearest the back of the sofa body 20 and is vertical, will be referred to as the rear vertical section; section 40 which is horizontal and lower (compared with section 60, which is also horizontal) will be referred to as the lower horizontal section; section 60 will be termed the upper horizontal section; and section 50, which is vertical (like section 30) but which is at the front of the sofa' body, will be referred to as the front vertical section."

The sections 40, 5 and 60' are substantially straight line members, while the rear vertical section 30, is angular, having an arm 35 pivotally articulated at 36 to a fixed angularly disposed supporting bar 37 secured to the sofa body 20. The lower end of the rear vertical section 30' is pivoted, as at 38, to the rear end of the lower horizontal section 40'. The forward end of section 40 is pivoted, at 41, to the lower end of the front vertical section 50, the upper end of which is pivoted, at 51, to the front end of the upper horizontal section 60. The parts 30,- 40, 50 and 69 have been spoken of as sections rather than mere rriembers because each section has companion parts or members at the respective right and left ends of the sofa body. The particular sections 30, 40, 50 and 60 shown in the present figures represent only the companion parts at the near end of the sofa body. The corresponding parts of the sections at the opposite end of the sofa have been omitted from the drawings, since they are mere counterparts of those shown.

The elements forming sections 30, 4t), t) and 60 are preferably angle irons, and are provided with well-known flanges or other suitable stop means to limit unfolding movement to the aligned relationship. Extending transversely across the device at suitable intervals are crossbars, such as those shown at 31, 32 and 33 (Figures 8 and 9) to hold the parts of each section together as a structural unit. Also extending transversely across the device is a bed spring 70 (Figure 9) adapted to support a mattress 80 (shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figures 1, 4 and 8). The spring may be supported in any well known manner between the opposite members of the frame sections. The mattress 80 is retained in folded condition within the frame when the latter is in its folded position.

During the initial stage of unfolding frame movement the rear vertical section 30 swings forwardly about the pin 36, the lower horizontal section 40 moves upwardly and forwardly out of the sofa body, and the upper horizontal section 60 remains in parallel spaced relation to the lower horizontal section 40 (Figure 4). At the completion of this stage of unfolding movement the parts assume the forward raised intermediate position indicated in Figure 5. A reverse movement of the frame takes place during the final stage of adjustment of the parts from the bed defining condition to the sofa defining condition.

In order to support the frame during these folding and unfolding movernents an elevator armor lever 42 is interposed between the sofa body and the lower horizontal section 40. (Actually there are two such elevator arms, one at each end of the sofa, but for the sake of simplicity of description and illustration reference will be made to only one arm, and the same applies to the mechanism with which it cooperates.)

The lever 42 has a transversely extending arm 44- at its lower end. The lever 42- is pivoted (at the-end of arm 44) to a fixed part of the sofa body by means ora pivot pin 46. In this way the'lever 42 is mounted for rotative movement about the pin 46 as an axis. It moves between the lowermost position shown in Figure 1 and the uppermost position shown in Figures 5, 7 and 8.

Extending rearwardly from the free end 48 of lever arm 42 into an anchorage with the sofa bed at 49 is a coiled tension spring 47. This spring is in a stressed condition when the parts are in the relationships of Figures l and 5, and it is in its least stressed condition when the parts are about in the relationship'of Figure 4. Thus the spring facilitates both the unfolding and the folding manipulations. This spring is Well-known per se and forms no special part of the present invention. It is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 8.

At its upper end the elevator arm or lever 42 is pivoted to the lower horizontal section 40' at 43. There is a short extension beyond this, and pivoted to this extension, at 77, is an actuating arm 75 whose function it is to operate the locking mechanism presently to be described.

Before describing the features of the special locking mechanism and its mode of operation, brief reference will be made'to some'of the other parts of the frame to facilitate an understanding of the over-all operation.

Connected between the lower and upper horizontal sections 40 and 60 is a pair of toggle links 61 and 62 pivoted together'at their adjacent ends 63. The links 61, 62 are adapted to open the toggle as shown in Figure 8 when the frame is unfolded, and to collapse together into the relationship shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 when the frame is folded to bring the upper and lower horizontal sections 60 and 40' into parallel relation.

Fixedly secured to and extending forwardly beyond the front vertical section 50 is a plate 52. A leg has its upper end pivoted to the plate 52, and is provided at its lower end with a ground-engaging caster. Pivotally connected to the leg 90 at 83 is a control link 81. The rear end of the control link 81 is pivoted to the toggle link 61 at 82, whereby movement of the toggle link will effect turning of the leg 90. That is, when the upper and lower horizontal sections 60 and 40 are in parallelism, the toggle links 61 and 62 are in their relatively closed position and the leg 90 is disposed alongside of the front vertical section 50, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. However, when the upper and lower horizontal sections move out of theirparallel relationship, the toggle links 61 and 62 move toward their open position, so that when the frame is in unfolded position, as seen in Figure 8, the leg 90 depends vertically from the front vertical section 50 and provides a support therefor.

Extending across the front of the sofa is a front board 92. It is automatically moved downwardly and forwardly, to get it out of the way, when the frame is unfolded (compare Figures 1 and 8). This is achieved by providing a forward extension 93 on the control link 81 pivoted to the front board at 94, and an adjacent constraining link 95 between the leg 90 and the front board 92.

Pivoted to the upper horizontal section 60 at 97 is a leg 96. The leg 96 is formed with an extension 98 and a link 99 is pivotally connected to-the front vertical section 50 and to the angular extension 98, whereby the leg 96 is rotated about the pivot 97 upon unfolding movement of the upper horizontal section with respect to the front vertical section. As seen in Figures 1, 4 and- 5, the leg. 96 is disposed-substantially parallel to the upper horizontal section 60 when the frame is in folded condition and when the upper horizontal section 60 is unfolded with respect to the front vertical section 50 the link 99 will effect rotative' movement of the leg 96 about the pin 97 so that the leg will assume a vertically depending position When the frame is unfolded as seen in Figure 8.

The'automaticlocking of the-parts is achieved in the present construction by the provision of a special-pair of locking links 66', 67-; bestdepietedin their relationship to each other and to the other parts in Figures 4, 5 and 7. The link 67 is substantially straight, and will be referred to hereinafter as the first locking link. Its outer end is pivoted at 71 to the lower toggle link 61. It has a length (pivot-to-pivot) exactly equal to the disance between the pivot point 71 and the pivot point 64 at which the lower toggle link 61 is articulated to the lower horizontal section 40. The other locking link 66 is substantially C- shaped, and will be referred to hereinafter as the second locking link. One end is pivotally connected to the first locking link 67 at 68; the outer end is pivoted to the lower horizontal section 40 at 69 (see Figure 7). The pivot-to-pivot length of the second locking link 66 is exactly equal to that of the first locking link 67, and the pivot point 69 is positioned to lie directly beneath and in alignment with the pivot 71 when the parts are in the relationship of Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Because of the fact that each locking link has the same length, and because this length is equal to the fixed distance along the lower horizontal section 40 between the pivot points 64 and 69, it follows that when the parts are in the relationship shown in Figure 5 (the frame being in its forward raised intermediate position) the pivots 69 and 71 are in alignment with each other, and the pivots 64 and 68 are in alignment with each other. At this particular instant of time, therefore, both links can be moved as a unit about the aligned pivots 69, 71 (as indicated in Figures 1-4), or the first locking link 67 can move as a unit with the lower toggle link 61 about the aligned pivots 64, 68 (as indicated in Figures 7 and 8). During the former rotative movement of the locking links as a unit (Figures 1-4) the lower toggle link 61 is locked against movement relative to the lower horizontal section 40, since the toggle link cannot simultaneously rotate about the pivot axis 64 and also about the pivot axis 69. As a result, the toggle links 61, 62 are effectively locked against relative movement to open the toggle, and it follows that the upper and lower horizontal sections 60 and 40 are locked in the superposed relationship shown in Figures 1-5.

On the other hand, the frame parts are free to be moved from the relationship of Figure 5 into the relatively opened relationships shown in Figures 7 and 8, since the alignment of the first locking link 67 with the lower toggle link 61 makes it possible for the latter to swing freely about the aligned pivots 64, 68.

The actuating arm 75, pivoted at its rear end 77 to the elevator lever 42, has its forward end pivoted to the second locking link 66 at the point 76. This pivot point is located beneath the lower horizontal section 40, as a result of which the movement of the locking links 66, 67 from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 5 involves a pushing force by the actuating arm 75. (In the second embodiment of the invention presently to be described, an actuating arm is employed which is articulated to the second locking link at a point above the lower horizontal section of the frame, as a result of which the same movement of the locking links is brought about by a pulling effect.)

The actuating arm 75 is of such length, and is so mounted, that during the swinging movement of the elevator arm 42 from the position of Figure 1 to that of Figure 5 the locking links 66, 67 will be movedinto the position of Figure 5 in which the pivot 68 that connects them to each other lines up with the pivot 64.

In the modified construction shown in Figures -18 a compound linkage is employed to support the frame during its movements between the fully folded position and the forward raised intermediate position, as a result of which it is possible to project the frame further forwardly and at a relatively higher level, as it emerges from the sofa body. This makes it possible to provide a device which is more comfortable and of better appearance in both the sofa-defining and the. bed-definingadjustments. Thus, while in usual. commercial practice the ,mechanism of Figures 1-9 provides a sofa seat approximately 24 inches deep (from front to back) the mechanism of Figures 10-18 permits this to be shortened to a more comfortable 22 inches. Also, whereas the former opens to a bed about 72 inches long and about 16 inches off the floor, the latter provides a sleeping surface of about 74 inches at a height of about 17 inches. Moreover, the mechanism of Figures 10-18 permits the frame to dip more steeply beneath the upholstered back during the folding operation, thus making it possible to achieve the folding and unfolding through a narrower opening between the seat section and the upholstered back. In several other respects, also, the construction of Figures 10-18 affords greater strength, stability and comfort, and improved appearance. However, in the locking feature to which the invention is primarily directed, the mechanism is essentially the same as that hereinbefore described.

From the description given in connection with Figures 1-9, many of the parts will be readily recognized in Figures 10-18 without requiring detailed explanation, the reference numerals used being the same, in their last two digits, as those previously employed, wherever analogous parts are referred to. Thus, the sofa body accommodates the folded frame consisting of the pivoted sections 130, 140, and 160. Lower and upper toggle links 161, 162 extend between the lower and upper horizontal sections 140 and 160. An elevator arm 142 is pivoted near its lower end to the sofa body at 146, and swings with the aid of the tension spring 147 between the low position of Figure 10 and the high position of Figures 14, 16 and 17. A bed spring (Figure 18) supports a mattress 180, and the mattress doubles over on itself when the device is folded (Figures 10 and 13) and lies extended when the bed is opened (Figure 18).

The locking links 166, 167 are pivoted together at 168. The first locking link 167 has its outer end pivoted to the lower toggle link 161 at 171, and the second locking link 166 has its outer end pivoted to the lower horizontal section 140 at 169. The pivots 169 and 171 line up with each other, and the pivots 164 and 168 line up with each other, when the frame is in the raised forward intermediate position shown in Figure 14; and from this position the frame may be either freely opened (compare Figures 14 and 16) as the locking link 167 and toggle link 161 move together about the aligned pivots 164, 168, or the sections 140, 160 can be locked in the superposed proximity of Figures 14, 13, 11 and 10 as the locking links 166, 167 are caused to move together as a unit about the aligned pivots 169, 171.

It will be observed, however, that in the modified construction of Figures 10-18 the upper end of the elevator arm 142 is not pivoted directly to the lower horizontal section 140, but is pivoted to one corner of a substantially triangular plate 101, as at 102. As seen in Figure 17,

the plate 101 has side edges that diverge forwardly. The lower corner is pivoted to the lower horizontal section 140 by a pin 103 and an intermediate part is pivoted to the forward end of a constraining link 104, as at 105. The rear end of link 104 is articulated to the rear vertical section 130, at 106, whereby this section 130, the lower horizontal section 140, the plate 101, and the link 104 combine to form a fully constrained four-link quadrilateral.

The upper corner of the triangular plate 101 (as viewed in Figure 17) is pivoted at 107 to the rear end of an actuating arm 175, corresponding in function to the actuating member 75 of the previously described modification, except that it pulls on the locking link 166 when the frame is unfolded whereas the arm 75 pushes upon the locking link 66. Thus, the locking link 166 has an extension beyond the pivot 169, whose end is pivoted to the front end of actuating arm 175 at 176.

During the first stage of the frame unfolding procedure,

as the elevator arm 142 swings in a clockwise direction (as viewed in the present drawings) from the position of Figure 10 to that of Figure 14, the link 104 exerts aligned pivots 169, 171 until the pivot 168 that connects the locking links 166, 167 comes into alignment with the pivot 164 that connects the lower toggle link 161 to the lower horizontal section 140. As the frame unfolds beyond this stage (compare Figures 14 and 16) the first locking link 167 moves with the toggle link 161 about the aligned pivots 164, 168. During. the closing of the bed, the parts pursue these movements in reverse, and

during the" travel of the frame from the forward raised intermediate position of Figure 14 to the fully closed position of Figure 10 the upper and lower horizontal sections 160, 140 are firmly and automatically locked in proper superposed relation.

An extra leg115 is provided in this construction, being pivoted at 116 to a plate 117 fixed to the lower horizontal section 140. A leg operating link 118 extends'from the pivot 119 on the leg 115 to the pivot 121 on anextension formed on the second locking link 166. The leg 115 is automatically pulled up to lie beneath the frame when it'is folded up, as shown in Figures 10, 1'1 and 13.

The front board 192 is maneuvered in this case to reach the floor when the'frame is unfolded, being provided with a caster 122 and affording added support to the bed. The movements of the front board 192 are controlled by an actuating link 123 pivoted at its rear end 124 to the upper toggle link 162, at its front end 194 to the front board 192, and man intermediate point 126 to anelement 127. The latter carries also the rear end of the constraining link 195 whose forward end is pivoted to the board- 192. The element 127 is pivoted to the front vertical section 150 at 128. The parts move from the compacted relation of Figuresl-14 to the opened relation of Figure 17, and back again, as the frame is unfolded and re-folded.

It will be understood that in many respects the details herein illustrated and described are subject to variation without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention a's'expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ha sofa-bed: a sofa body; a frame foldable into said bodyto define a sofa and unfoldable out of said body to define a bed, said frame comprising pivotally connected sections includingupper and lower horizontal sections, saidsections being in substantial horizontal alignment when the'frarne is fully unfolded and lying in superposed proximity when the frame is folded and'during movements of the frame'between its fully folded position and an intermediate forwardly raised position; mutually pivoted upper and lower toggle links having their outer ends pivotally connected to said'upper and lower horizontal sections respectively; and means effective during the movements of the frame between said folded and intermediate positions for locking said toggle links against relative movement; said means comprising a pair of mutually pivoted locking links the first of which is pivoted at its outer end to the lower toggle link and the second of which is pivoted at its outer end to said lower horizontal section; said locking links each being equal in length to the distance between (a) the'outer pivot conmeeting-the first locking link to the lower toggle link and (b) the pivot connecting said lower toggle link to the lower horizontal; section; said lower toggle link being'so shaped that said outer pivots are in' alignment with each other when'said upper and lower horizontal sections are in said superposed. proximity.

2. In a sofa-bed, the structure defined in claim 1, and actuating means for swinging said locking links as a unit about said, aligned outer pivots during the movements of the frame between its fully folded and intermediate positions. v

3. In a sofa bed,: the structure defined in claim 1, and actuating means for swinging said locking links as a unit aboutsaid aligned outerpivots during the movements of the frame between its fully folded and intermediate positions, said actuating means being effective when the frame is in its intermediate position to bring the pivot that unites the locking links intoalignment with the pivot that connects the lower horizontal section to said lower toggle link. 7

4. In a sofa-bed, the structure defined in claim 1, and actuating means for swingingsaid locking links as a unit about saidaligned outer pivots during the movements of the frame between its'fully folded and intermediate positions, said actuating means comprising a bar,

pivoted to the second locking link between its. pivotal connections to the lower horizontal section and to the first locking link. I

5. In a. sofa-bed, the structure defined in claim 1, and actuating means for swinging said locking links as a unit about said aligned outer pivots during the movements of the frame between its fully folded and intermediate position, saidsecond locking link having an extension projecting beyond its point of pivotal connection to the lower horizontal section, and said actuating means comprising a bar pivoted to. said extension.

6. In a sofa-bed, the structure defined in claim 1, and actuating means for swinging said locking links as a unit about said aligned outer pivots during the movements of the frame between its fully folded and intermediate position, said actuating means comprising a movable bar pivoted to one of said locking links, and means operable during the last-mentioned .movements of the frame for moving said bar to swing said links.

7. A sofa-bed as defined in claim 6, said last-mentioned means comprising an'elevator lever pivoted at its lower end'to the sofa body, at a mid-point to said lower horizontal section, and at its upper end to said movable bar.

8., In a sofa-bed, asofa body, a frame foldable into said body to define a. sofa and unfoldable out of said body to definea bed, said frame comprising pivotally connected sections including in sequence a rear vertical section, a lower horizontal section, a front vertical section and an upper horizontal. section, said sections defining a substantial rectangle when'the frame is fully folded and lying in substantial alignment when it is unfolded, means for moving the frame upwardly and forwardly out of the sofa body to an intermediate position during the initial stage. of unfolding, mutually pivoted upper and lower toggle links extending between and pivotally connected respectively to 'said upper and lower horizontal sections, and'rneans effective during the movements of the frame between its fully folded and intermediate positions for locking said toggle links against opening movement, said means comprising a pair of pivotally connected locking links of equal length, the first of. said links having its outer end pivoted to the lower'toggle link, the second ofsaid link'shaving its outer end pivoted to the lower horizontal section, said locking links having a length equal to the distance between (a) the outer pivot connecting the first locking link to the lower, toggle link and (b) the pivot connecting said lower toggle link to the lower horizontal section, said outer pivots being so located that they are in alignment when the frame is in said intermediate position, and actuatingmeans for swinging said locking links as a unit about'said aligned pivots during the movements of the frame between its'fully folded and intermediate positions, said' actuating means comprising a plate pivoted to said lower horizontal section, a link pivotally interposedbetween said rear vertical section and said plate, and an arm pivotally interposed between said plate and one of said locking links.

9. A sofa-bed as defined in claim 8, said second locking link having an extension beyond its pivotal connection to the lower horizontal section, and said arm having its forward end pivoted to said extension.

10. A sofa-bed as defined in claim 8, said second locking link having an extension beyond its pivotal connection to the lower horizontal section, there being also an elevator lever pivoted at its upper end to said plate, the lower end being pivotally connected to the sofa body, and said arm having its forward end pivoted to said extension and its rear end to said plate.

11. A sofa-bed as defined in claim 8, said plate projecting upward from said lower horizontal section, said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,127,874 Dyke Feb. 9, 1915 1,216,443 Hann Feb. 20, 1917 1,270,384 Davis June 24, 1918 1,296,612 Bartlett Mar. 11, 1919 2,634,428 Fox Apr. 14, 1953 2,642,583 Bank et al June 23, 1953 

